River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-09-15

apiece. / noticed also for the first time
a small solitaire diamond on her finger.
"You look gay tonight, Mademolselle
Deia," / said to break the silence.
"Oh, do you think SOP" she cried,
with flashing of happy light into her
eyes. Tell me, monsieur! Tell me
the truth! Am / very uglyg"
What a question: | exclaimed,
amused in spite of myself at her earnest
ness. You are certainly anything but
Unlocking"
..Oh, thank your she cried in ex-
travagant joy. You are so good,
monsieur, to say that If Thought my
face was ugly should not wish to live. :
She went and stood before a long
mirror. and turned her head to the
right and to the left, looking at the
reflection from all possible points of
view. The full, rich color which came
into her cheeks made her grow radiant.
You did not call upon me this hour
to ask that question. mademoiselle, |
said. becoming afraid that she would
never tire of examining her features.
mo" she replied. turning suddenly
about and coming close to me. Il
came to * you-if-if'-
WELL"
..MoEsieur. she broke out, with
nervous fingers clutching at her dress,
what does Monsieur Charles say
say about me?'
Here was pickle.
"Does he-also. " she pursued, slowly,
..think / am-not ugly? He is your
friend. What does ne say-to yOu?'
The color in her cheeks was like a
flame. but it was caused by anxiety and
excitement only.
WHO gave YOU that new ring |
asked. for want of "A better way to ans
wer.
This ring she cried, clasping her
other hand over IT, Her eyes flashed
anger As she repeated the harmless
words This ring!' What do you
mean. monsieur? Do you think |
would let another man give me ring?'
But why did he give it to you?'
..Ah, she exclaimed. Modified instant
". That is the very thing. Monsieur
le MedicIn. That is what / wish so
much to know What does an English
gentleman mean when he gives girl
ring like that? In the South it would
mean very underwriting
does it mean so much in this country"
How did he happen TO purchase it?'
| asked, still evading IA direct reply.
1t must have cost POO francs
Two hundred. monsieur? Five
hundred, We were strolling this eve
ming. after the theatre, along the Ave
nue. de TOpera, when we passed a
jewelers.. Look AT those rings said
Monsieur Charles, are they not fine?
.Ah,' | said to him, they are not for a
poor girl like meeven to look at What!
he cried, would you like one?' Almost
before | knew it we were inside the
shop and this beautiful thing was on
my finger"
said that with an Englishman a
ring might mean a great deal or moth
ing, and that had no means of know
ing what was i'm the mind of my friend
when he bought this particular article.
She grew quiet Immediately and we
talked in low tone for a few minutes.
She stated with the utmost frankness
that he had never offered even to kiss
her nor shown his affection in any way
which could not be construed into mere
goOd-Dature and generosity. When she
left there were tears on her cheeks,
the first and last | ever saw there.
/ meant to speak to Trenholm about
thiS-I did, indeed! | suspect he pene-
trated my design, as he never seemed
to give me just the right opportunity.
But i'm his heart he must have known
all that | could have told him. No
man-certainly not Charlie Trenholm
could be so blind as to let this girls
love 20 unObserved.
You may imagine how startled was
one morning, several weeks after the
visit of Deja to my room, to find note
which had been pushed under my door,
and which read as follows:
Monsieur lie Medicin-Your friend,
Monsieur Charles, saved me once from
drowning myself at the Pont Neuf.
You can find me this morning some
where under the Pont d'Austerlitz.
81 found letter in his room last
night which he had written to lady in
England. He said in that letter that
she should one day be his wife. God!
monsieur think of that-and pity me!
"Monsieur Charles is dead. His
English lady can have him if she
wishes. Adieu. DEJA.'
/ sprang to Trenholm's room and
opened the door. A bloody dagger lay
upon the Counterpart Of tho bed. |
rang for the garcOn and sent him with
speed for a surgeon. and then proceed
ed to make such an examination as my
skill would warrant. In her extreme
haste the enraged girl mad struck her
weapon through bedclothes and all, and
/ found, thank God! that Charlie was
yet breathing.
He opened his ewes after little while
and stared wildly about the room.
Then he tried to take me by the sleeve.
.'Jim-old boy-if you love me- he
whispered. i'm voice so low that / could
hardly distinguish the words, don't
tell anybody what YOU think about this.
Don't let the police
gave the TeiulTeu assurance anu ne
seemed content. Weeks later, when |
told him how she died. he cried, poor
little Deia!" ard wept like baby.
The garcon started to tell me one day
that he had seen her body at the morgue,
but quickly stopped him.
Trenholm has never fully recovered
from his injuries. His engagement with
the English lady is broken of. ! do
not think he will ever marry.